Warwick Police put out call for Explorers, meeting set Saturday

Warwick Police officers like Nelson Carreiro hope there’s an overflow of people at the Department’s Community Room this Saturday morning.

If that’s the case, then the Warwick Police Department’s (WPD) highly-regarded Explorers Post 327 will have its largest class in history.

The Warwick Police Explorers program is actually a Boy Scouts of America, Narragansett Bay Council post. It’s sponsored and organized each year by the WPD and is open to young men and women ages 14 to 20 who have an interest in pursuing a career in law enforcement.

Carreiro, who is the WPD Explorer Post 327 coordinator, issued an open invitation for young people who fit the age category listed above to attend a special Open House this Saturday morning, Sept. 21 at 9 a.m. in the Community Room of the Department’s headquarters at 99 Veterans Memorial Drive.

Because all Explorer Posts are affiliated with the Boys Scouts of America, cadets all over the state pride themselves in a host of community service-oriented projects like shoveling snow for senior citizens and helping with traffic flow at public events while also witnessing and practicing all aspects of law enforcement.

The Explorers Post’s calendar begins with Saturday’s Open House and winds up in early summer at the annual Police Explorers Training Academy that’s held at Fort Varnum, the seaside base in Narragansett that houses many Rhode Island National Guard training sessions.

“The graduation ceremony is really impressive,” Carreiro said. “Each Explorer is rewarded for his or her hard work during the week. What’s even more important is the camaraderie that our Explorer Cadets develop with young people from other posts that are located all over the state.”

Marc A. Boisvert, who recently retired from the Johnston Police Department with the rank of major, directs the annual Police Academy Training Academy along with Charlestown Police Let. Patrick McMahon.

“Exploring allows youths between the ages of 14 and 20 to learn firsthand about the field of law enforcement,” said Boisvert, who has received numerous awards related to his Explorers Program leadership. “The program, although challenging and demanding, is a lot of fun and a great educational experience. Explorers participate in firearms training, scuba diving, self-defense, traffic and criminal investigation and more.”

Carreiro explained the Explorers Program also fosters a sense of responsibility and civic pride through which the Explorers will go out into the city and state and perform many services for the community.

“The Warwick Police Department and the Warwick Police Explorers Program are dedicated to creating future law enforcement officers,” Carreiro said. “It also helps develop mature and well-informed citizens. I personally urge any young person between the ages of 14 and 20 who has been thinking about their futures to attend Saturday’s Open House.”

Carreiro said that WPD Chief Stephen M. McCartney and Major Raymond Gallucci will also be on hand for Saturday’s Explorers Post 327 Open House. For further information, call Carreiro at 468-4375.